Author: Michele at ScriptureStudy.Guide
Posted: April 28, 2023. Updated May 16, 2023.
Matthew 22:1-14 is called “The Parable of the Wedding Feast” and it tells us that it describes what the kingdom of heaven is like. Within this parable, Jesus foretells the actual events of late-66 AD that were soon to come upon God’s chosen people who were apostate.
This Generation Shall Not Pass
To correctly interpret this parable, we need to see the proofs in Scripture where Jesus told us the time frame of His second coming.
When God was walking on earth in human flesh as Jesus Christ, He was talking to the people and told them the following:
“Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom.”
Those who were physically alive in Jesus’ day would not die until they saw Him coming in His kingdom.
And there is a second account in Luke 9:27 — “But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus literally said that He was speaking to people who would still be alive to see Him and His kingdom come, the same kingdom which He called the “kingdom of God.”
The kingdom of God and the kingdom reign of Jesus Christ on this earth are one and the same — they are both SPIRITUAL.
Sidenote: We are not waiting on Jesus to come in the future to reign on this earth because He is already doing so! Please see The Kingdom of God is Here and The Millennial Reign studies for more info.
Jesus spoke the words in Matthew and Luke sometime during His 3 1/2-year ministry on earth around 28-31 AD.
We know He came in the clouds in wrath on those who literally pierced Him from late-66 to early-70 AD … this was immediately after the Great Tribulation of the saints from early-63 to late-66.
So there were less than 40 years — known as “one generation” — from the time that Jesus spoke the above words to the time that the “Son of man came in His kingdom” and they all “saw the kingdom of God.” That just gives me chills every time.
There are 3 accounts of Jesus proclaiming, “…this generation shall not pass until all these things be fulfilled/done” — Matthew 24:34, Mark 13:30, and Luke 21:32.
Jesus’ second coming has already occurred where He came as a warrior, and He will return as the bridegroom in the future. See the studies “Coming in the Clouds” – Jesus’ Second Coming and Distinguishing Jesus’ Past Comings from His Future Coming in Scripture for more info.
If you haven’t yet read the historical account along with the biblical account of this incredible time in earth’s history (“incredible” is an understatement!), please see the study The Jewish-Roman War & the Two Witnesses in the Great Tribulation.
What the Kingdom of Heaven is Like
The kingdom of heaven IS the kingdom of God which includes the kingdom reign of Jesus Christ happening now in this church age.
This study will cover Matthew 22:1-14. The KJV verses will be in bold italics with Strong’s definitions added in [brackets]. Commentary is in non-bold.
Matthew 22:1-2
And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
The kingdom of heaven is God’s spiritual realm and His rule on earth and in heaven. It also includes our spiritually-renewed hearts. The king is God the Father and the Son is Jesus Christ.
Matthew 22:3
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
The Greek reads, “And sent forth his servants to call those called to the wedding, but [they] would not come.”
The servants here are those who led God’s people into God’s truths during the Old Covenant era. This included Noah, Moses, Joshua, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, John the Baptist, all the prophets, and all believers who were in covenant with God.
God’s chosen people, the apostate House of Jacob/Israel and Judah — those adopted unto election — refused His call … and it was because God designed it that way from before the foundation of the world (see God Created Evil and “Hell” is Not Eternal – God Works in Ages for details.)
Matthew 22:4
Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden [called], Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
Note that it reads “again” were sent “other” servants.
It says the servants here were sent after the great sacrifice, when all of the very best had been killed. This “best of the best” sacrifice is the Lamb Jesus Christ, so this verse is metaphorical for the beginning of the church age.
The great sacrifice was made, the old became new (the New Covenant), then God again sent out His messengers.
The church age servants were the disciples including Peter the rock, and Paul the called-out one, and the true church, the ekklesia.
After the completion of the sevened seventy (Daniel’s 70 weeks) in 34 AD, the Jews were given one generation (over 30 years), up to late-66 AD, to accept their sent Messiah. See Daniel’s 70 Weeks were Fulfilled in 34 AD for details.
Matthew 22:5
But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
The people brushed off the Gospel message being told to them by the ekklesia. They leaned on their worldly posterity as their savior — their cattle farms and vineyards, and their goods and wealth. Scripture tells us that their only reward is the vanity of this world while they are still in this world (Psalm 91:8, the book of Ecclesiastes).
Matthew 22:6
And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
In the Greek, this verse actually reads, “And those remaining (who were not ranchers, farmers, or business owners) took his servants and abused and killed them.”
Wicked men of prosperity are fearful and weak and always manipulate the brute poorer classes to inflict direct harm on their perceived enemies who are non-violent Christians.
Matthew 22:7
But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
God was livid over His prophets and servants being killed. Jesus returned in wrath in late-66 AD and empowered the Roman military — the eagles/phoenix — to kill the wicked Jews and burn down Jerusalem and their temple by early-70 AD. In turn, God had the Arabs completely dismantle the Roman Empire by 476 AD.
Sidenote: Eagles were what the ancient Romans were called — they are mentioned in Matthew 24:26 and Luke 17:37. They had a Phoenix, which is represented by today’s Bald Eagle, across their breastplates. It is why the national bird of America is a Bald Eagle — because the U.S. was formed to be the one world government’s military faction (proof here) so the descendants of the synagogue of Satan could again take over the entire inhabited world (which is the event that will end this entire elemental earth for good — see Earth was Destroyed BEFORE this Present Creation for info).
Matthew 22:8
Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden [called] were not worthy.
The “wedding is ready” — this phrase is metaphorical for the Lamb having already bought His bride with a price, His shed blood on the cross, and is now claiming His own.
But while the Bridegroom was assembling His bride, the called Jews were unrepentant and rejected their Savior. So God opened the wedding invitation to everyone of all races and nations who would heed His gracious invitation. Our salvation is solely a gift from God and is not of he who wills, runs, or strives (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Matthew 22:9
Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid [call] to the marriage.
The ekklesia, as God’s faithful servants, are to give the call unto salvation in Christ Jesus to absolutely everyone we have a chance to speak with, no matter who they are or where they are from. This is going on throughout this entire church age … the wedding has not yet happened but the guests, which includes the bride, are steadily arriving at the spiritual marriage supper upon their physical death.
The marriage will be complete when all members of the bride have become their second-adam which is spirit, and have become one spirit through Christ in God in the heavenly realm (see Soul vs. Spirit for details). The bride and groom are one flesh (Ephesians 5:31), or in this case, one spirit — God tells us He will be all-in-all (1 Corinthians 15:28).
Matthew 22:10
So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Both the wicked and the righteous — whoever is willing to come — we should gather them unto Christ and trust that God will complete His purpose in each person. We are not to judge the spiritual heart of anyone; although we are to avoid the spiritual works of darkness which we will know by their fruits (see Are You Producing Good Fruit? and How Satan is Deceiving You). We are commanded to expose the spiritual works of darkness — Ephesians 5:11.
Matthew 22:11
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
I find this verse to be incredibly interesting; how one can arrive at the wedding without having a wedding garment. They were part of the “bad” spoken of in the previous verse.
We see that the guests first go before the King, the Almighty Father God. He separates those to whom He granted salvation in Christ Jesus from those who were wolves/imposters. This is the same event where Jesus is putting His sheep at His right hand and the goats on His left. This probably occurs right before the Great White Throne Judgment. The redeemed then go before the Judgment Seat of Christ, and the wicked are given a sentence according to their works which are recorded in the books then cast into the lake of fire.
It appears that all those who profess Jesus Christ, including those who are following a false gospel and serving a false Jesus/fallen angel of light, are going to be at the wedding supper but will go before the Father before the wedding begins. This leads me to believe that the Great White Throne Judgment of the wicked and the Judgment Seat of Christ for the redeemed will occur simultaneously. Those practicing a false Christianity or have not the Holy Spirit will not have their name written in the Book of Life. They are akin to the 5 foolish virgins who let their oil/Holy Spirit run out (Matthew 25:1-13), or to the man who hid his one talent and did nothing for God’s kingdom (Matthew 25:14-30). God never gave them a wedding garment and Jesus will tell them “I never knew you.” See Do You Truly Know Jesus?
Matthew 22:12
And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Wow. Wouldn’t you hate to be in that person’s place? Believing we have on a wedding garment is not the same as living our lives wearing the wedding garment — that is, taking up our daily cross and dying to self daily (Romans 6:6, 1 Corinthians 15:31). The wedding garment looks NOTHING like the world.
When we are called, we should strive to answer that call with all of the gifts and abilities that God has given us (see What is God’s Will for Me? and Use of Spiritual Gifts/Talents). We should nurture our relationship with Christ and our Father, above ALL ELSE, so our oil will not run out and so God will not forsake us.
Matthew 22:13
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Outer darkness. That is a place completely devoid of God and His kind, righteous people. There is no kindness given, no relief from pain, no distractions, no truth, no light, no comfort, no joy, no relationships, no company, no righteousness, no goodness; only blindness and despair. There are only devils, wickedness, screaming, crying, pain, itching to satisfy wants, hunger, darkness; no hope or relief at all. And this could go on for thousands and thousands of years (see “Hell” is Not Eternal – God Works in Ages).
Praise God who labors for His children, who has renewed our hearts of stone and given us the saving faith and trust in Jesus’ shed blood which atoned for our sin! All glory to the Most High who has poured out His mercy and grace on us!
Matthew 22:14
For many are called, but few are chosen.
We can’t possibly even begin to grasp just how fortunate we are to be in the one body whose head is Christ Jesus! ALL praise to our Almighty Father who saved us!
If you are questioning your conversion in Christ…..
…..then the devil may be attacking you, or the Holy Spirit is trying to warn you. Here are some articles that will help discern the difference:
Did you ever reach the point where you fell down before God in repentance, when you realized that you and your worldly ways are prideful filth, and sought God’s forgiveness? Do You Truly Know Jesus?
Are you obeying the commandments that Jesus gave us which God has written in our hearts? Details are here in this article that also explains the Sabbath.
Are you growing the Spirit-fruits of Christ? Explanations here.
Do you know the exact teachings of Jesus and what He expects of us? The list is here.
Are you walking in God’s will for your life? Paul’s explanation is here.
Are you doing your best to live uprightly, or are you walking in the world’s ways? Help is here.
Is your relationship with God and His Son based on your love for Him, or for what you and your earthly life can gain from it?
Earthly works won’t save us, but the work done through our renewed hearts proves our saving faith.
Never give up on Father God and His Son Jesus Christ…. Elohim’s Truth is all we have in this age of deception. Jesus Christ is coming again soon! Much love to you all!
For the complete list of articles, click here.
For a how-to on studying your Bible in the original languages, click here.
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